Min reviews progress of Khel Mahakumbh

Sports, Youth Welfare and Education minister Arvind Pandey reviewed the progress of the Khel Mahakumbh-2018 at Secretariat through video conference on Wednesday. The mega sporting event where competitions at Nyay Panchayat, Block, District and State levels are being held is being organised by the state Youth Welfare Department. Competitions at the Nyay Panchayat level have already been concluded.

In the meeting the minister directed District Magistrates and District Sports Officers to ensure that a maximum number of players take part in the competition to be held in second phase at the level of blocks. He suggested that for it they should undertake a promotional campaign.

Pandey also gave orders to disburse the prize money to the winners of block and district level competition on completion of the competition at the venue only.

The state-level competitions Mahakumbh would start on January 8, 2019 and commence till February 21, 2019. The selection of sportspersons at the Nyay Panchayat level has been completed in all 670 Nyay Panchayats of the state and in the second phase, competition in all 95 development blocks would start.

In an attempt to encourage participation, the department this year has increased the prize money. The officials claim that increase in prize money has already resulted in increased participation at the Nyay Panchayat level this year.

The department would pay a cash reward of Rs 300, 200 and 150 for the players securing first, second and third places respectively in the block level completion. The sportsperson securing first, second and third place at the district level would be given cash reward of Rs 700, Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively while those securing first, second and third place at the State level would be rewarded with cash prize of Rs 1000, Rs 600 and Rs 400 respectively.

In the meeting, the sports minister also discussed in detail the preparations the forthcoming national games with officials.